LeBron James left his teenage years behind on 30 December, already on his way to becoming an NBA legend.
If that sounds like typical American sporting hyperbole, a DVD or video of his career highlights to date should be on your Christmas list.
True, 'King James' is only in his second professional season, but the quality of his play for Cleveland has already marked him out for greatness.
At the end of November, the 6ft 8in forward became the youngest player in NBA history to score 2,000 points.
LA Lakers' future Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant was the previous record holder, but he was 277 days older than James when he reached the magic mark in 1999.
At the same age, Michael Jordan was still slam dunking for the North Carolina Tar Heels in US college basketball.
Three days before nailing Bryant's record, James displayed all his awesome talent in amassing a career-high 43 points as the Cavaliers beat reigning NBA champions Detroit.
Cleveland have been transformed from laughing stocks to contenders by James who, like Jordan, tends to bring the best of the players around him.
After reaching 2,000 points, he said: "We worked as a team, the unselfishness was just great. We got everyone into the game and came out with a victory."
As for his record feat, he added: "I didn't even know - it came so quick. I don't notice things like that."
Earlier this year, he also became the youngest player to be named NBA Rookie of the Year.
It was just reward for a first campaign which saw him average 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists.
Only NBA greats Jordan and Oscar Robertson had previously averaged at least 20-5-5 in their first pro seasons.
James helped the Cavs improve from just 17 wins in the season before he joined to 35 victories for ninth in the Eastern Conference - just one place outside the play-offs.
This term, few doubt they will make the post-season provided their youthful talisman stays fit and resists the temptations lurking away from the court.
There seems little doubt that James has the sense to avoid the kind of bad boy antics that can bedevil some of the sport's biggest stars.
He could have kicked back in the summer after a successful debut season, let his hair down and ran a little wild.
Instead, he jumped at the chance to play for the USA at the Athens Olympics while other, more established players used a variety of excuses to duck out.
Although James shone in Greece, he could only help the 2004 'Dream Team' to bronze, but there will be plenty of other Olympiads before his retires.
He was, after all, the youngest player to represent his country at the Games since Spencer Haywood in 1968.
Winning Olympic gold one day would be great, but surely top of his festive wish list is a first NBA title with his hometown team Cleveland.
With a little good fortune, he may just get his wish this season.
After all, Santa Claus plays in red and white, just like the Cavaliers...
MMIX
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